Overland water storage is a weight problem disguised as a container problem. Water weighs about 8.34 lbs per gallon, so a three-day trip for two people turns into 50 to 75 lbs before you pick a single jug. Where that weight sits, inside the cargo area or on the roof, matters more than the brand on the cap.
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon
Retail spec pages list the Aqua-Tainer at 7 gallons (26.5 L), about 2 lbs empty, 11.25 x 11 x 15.25 inches, with a liquid-level indicator and a vented screw cap. It stacks when empty. Filled it weighs about 60 lbs (7 gal x 8.34 lbs plus the jug). That is the most water per dollar here by a wide margin. It is not rated for rooftop use or hard impacts, so it rides inside the vehicle.
Check price on Amazon →This is a researched buying guide built from manufacturer and retailer spec pages, CDC and National Park Service water guidance, and Amazon listings. We compare four containers from about $15 to about $500, then give you a table of gallons per trip and how many containers each trip needs. If you are still choosing your first big purchases, start with our overland gear checklist for beginners.
Our pick: the Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon, 2 lbs empty and around 60 lbs full. Toughest rigid can: the Scepter 5-gallon military-style container, 4.33 lbs empty. Smallest to store: the Reliance Fold-A-Carrier, 0.65 lbs and collapsible. Roof option: the Yakima RoadShower 4G at 53 lbs filled. Plan on at least 1 gallon per person per day and keep full containers inside the vehicle.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key detail | Price class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 gal | Cheapest rigid water for most weekend rigs | 7 gal, 2 lbs empty, about 60 lbs full, 11.25 x 11 x 15.25 in | $ · Budget | Check price |
| Scepter 5 gal Military Style Water Container | Rough roads and rack or fender mounting | 5 gal, 4.33 lbs empty, about 46 lbs full, 0.10 in walls | $ · Budget | Check price |
| Reliance Fold-A-Carrier 5 gal | Backup capacity that stores flat | 5 gal, 0.65 lbs, collapses, leakproof spigot | $ · Budget | Check price |
| Yakima RoadShower 4G | Roof-rack water with built-in pressure | 4 gal, 53 lbs filled, 55 psi relief valve | $$ · Mid-range | Check price |
Our picks, one by one
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 GallonOur Pick
The 7-gallon size gives a pair of people their baseline water for 3 days in one jug, and it ships with a spigot cap that reverses for transport. Retail specs show 2 lbs empty and a stacking design. A Pack of 2 or 4 is also sold on Amazon. You can buy two for the price of one Scepter. The drawback is durability. After a season of washboard roads, check seams and the spigot for weeping.
Check price on Amazon →Scepter 5 Gallon Military Style Water ContainerToughest rigid can
NRS lists the earlier Scepter 5-gallon at 5 gallons (20 L), 18.8 x 6.8 x 13.7 inches, 4.33 lbs empty, with 0.10-inch minimum walls, a locking screw cap, a small spout for filling bottles and a breather hole. NRS now directs buyers to a new version, so check the current listing for exact weight. Filled it is about 46 lbs, a weight most people can carry with one hand. It is the better pick than the Aqua-Tainer if the can sits in a bed or on a rack where it will bang around.
Check price on Amazon →Reliance Fold-A-Carrier 5 GallonBest backup
Amazon lists the Fold-A-Carrier at 5 gallons (20 L), 0.65 lbs, 12 x 4 x 16 inches, BPA-free polyethylene, a leakproof on/off spigot and a five-year warranty against defects. It collapses nearly flat. For a budget price it adds 5 gallons of capacity without taking up a cargo shelf on the trip out. It beats a rigid can only when space matters. If you have room, rigid is sturdier.
Check price on Amazon →Yakima RoadShower 4GRoof option
Yakima lists a 4-gallon welded aluminum tank at 53 lbs filled, 55 inches long and 6.1 inches wide, with a built-in pressure relief valve at 55 psi, two outlet ports and universal mounting hardware for crossbars 24 to 50 inches apart. Amazon sells the 4G. Yakima also makes 7-gallon (84 lbs filled) and 10-gallon (120 lbs filled) models, but check your vehicle manual: most roof limits for moving are far below what a tank, tent and boards add up to.
Check price on Amazon →How we chose
We built this list from retailer and maker spec pages (NRS for Scepter, retail listings for Reliance, Yakima's own RoadShower page), then confirmed each product has an Amazon listing. We scored each on capacity, empty and filled weight, build (wall thickness, seams, spigot), whether it can ride outside the cabin, price per gallon and warranty. We left out Rotopax water packs because we could not confirm an Amazon listing.
This is researched from specs and owner reports, not from our own field use, and numbers vary by retailer. Where a source disagreed we said so. Check the listing for the current model before you buy.
How much water to carry: the numbers
The CDC says to store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days, covering drinking, cooking and brushing teeth, and to store more if you live in a hot climate, are pregnant or have pets. Bryce Canyon National Park recommends carrying at least one gallon (4 liters) per person per day for backcountry use. Use 1 gallon as your floor and 1.5 gallons for hot trips with dishes and hand washing.
| Trip | Gal/person/day | Total gallons | Weight of water | 5-gal cans | 7-gal cans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people, 3 days | 1.0 | 6 | 50 lbs | 2 | 1 |
| 2 people, 3 days, hot | 1.5 | 9 | 75 lbs | 2 | 2 |
| 2 people, 5 days | 1.0 | 10 | 83 lbs | 2 | 2 |
| 4 people, 3 days | 1.0 | 12 | 100 lbs | 3 | 2 |
| 4 people, 5 days, hot | 1.5 | 30 | 250 lbs | 6 | 5 |
Formula: total gallons = people x days x gal/day; weight = gallons x 8.34 lbs; cans = total gallons / can size, rounded up.
The last row is the one that surprises people: 250 lbs of water for a week with a family. That is why most weekend overlanders keep it to a 3-day plan and refill from a source. Water and a fridge compete for the same cargo floor, so size both together with our 12V fridge guide.
Cost and weight per gallon: the original math
Capacity is only half the story. Two numbers decide how a container behaves in your rig: dollars per gallon of capacity and dead weight (the container's own weight) per gallon. We computed both from the prices and specs above.
| Container | Capacity | Price (about) | $ per gallon | Empty weight | Dead lbs per gallon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Aqua-Tainer | 7 gal | $15 to $20 | $2.14 to $2.86 | 2 lbs | 0.29 |
| Reliance Fold-A-Carrier | 5 gal | $26 | $5.20 | 0.65 lbs | 0.13 |
| Scepter military-style | 5 gal | $50 | $10.00 | 4.33 lbs | 0.87 |
| Yakima RoadShower 4G | 4 gal | $450 to $500 | $112 to $125 | about 20 lbs | about 4.9 |
Formula: $ per gallon = price / capacity; dead lbs per gallon = empty weight / capacity. Yakima empty weight is its 53-lb filled weight minus 4 gal x 8.34 lbs, which matches the roughly 20 lbs listed on its page.
The Aqua-Tainer is the clear winner on cost, and the Fold-A-Carrier wins on dead weight. The Scepter costs about 4 times more per gallon than the Aqua-Tainer. What you buy for that premium is wall thickness and a carry weight you can handle with one hand, not extra water. The Yakima's price per gallon is 40 to 50 times the Aqua-Tainer's. You pay for a roof-mounted, pressurized tank with a built-in shower option, so only buy it if that is a feature you will use every trip.
Rigid, collapsible or pressurized: which format fits
Rigid jugs (Aqua-Tainer, Scepter) hold their shape, stack, and sit upright on a cargo floor without a cradle. They are the right default for a weekend rig. The Aqua-Tainer has a molded spigot cap and a level indicator, so you can see how much is left without lifting it. The Scepter is a more compact footprint at 6.8 inches wide, which fits beside a fridge or in a tailgate gap.
Collapsible containers (Fold-A-Carrier) make sense as a second tier. Use one when you plan to refill at a creek or a distant spigot and need to carry 5 gallons to the vehicle, then collapse it afterward. Because it is flexible, wedge it in a bin so it cannot slump and strain the spigot.
Pressurized rack tanks (Yakima RoadShower) add a pressure relief valve at 55 psi and outlet ports, so water moves without a pump. Yakima lists a hose adapter on the 4G. They are for people who already carry a roof rack for other reasons and have load budget to spare.
A simple build order: one 7-gallon rigid jug first, a second jug or a Fold-A-Carrier second, and a roof tank last, if ever.
Where the weight goes: inside, on the roof or on the rack
Your vehicle manual lists two roof numbers: a dynamic limit while driving and a higher static limit when parked. Water belongs under the dynamic number only if you have room after a rooftop tent, crossbars and gear. A full Yakima RoadShower 4G adds 53 lbs; the 7G adds 84 lbs and the 10G adds 120 lbs. Add a rooftop tent and crossbars and the total can reach your manual's dynamic limit quickly, so do the sum before you buy.
- Put the heaviest cans low, centered and between the axles, strapped so they cannot slide.
- One 7-gallon Aqua-Tainer is about 60 lbs. Two is 120 lbs, roughly one extra passenger.
- A water jug that leaks soaks your sleeping bag, so use a cargo bin or drip tray under rigid cans.
- Do not store water near gasoline cans. The CDC says to keep containers away from gasoline and pesticides because those chemicals can contaminate stored water.
Keeping stored water safe
If you fill containers yourself instead of buying sealed bottled water, the CDC says to replace it every six months and store it in a cool place, 50 F to 70 F, out of direct sunlight. Heat and light are the enemy of stored water in a vehicle. Rinse new containers before the first fill. If you source from streams or taps in the backcountry, treat or filter before drinking. Do not rely on the jug to make water safe.
A practical routine: fill at home or a known tap the day before you leave, mark the fill date on the jug with a paint pen, and finish the oldest water first. Keep one container for drinking and cooking only, and a second for washing, so you never pour hand-wash water into your coffee pot by mistake. Rotate full jugs each trip so none sits in a hot vehicle for weeks.
Who should NOT buy a roof tank, and when to skip big storage
- Anyone near their roof's dynamic load limit. If a rooftop tent, boards and bars already add up to the limit in your manual, a 53-lb tank is not an option.
- Weekend trips near a campground spigot. Two 5-gallon cans and refilling are cheaper than a $500 tank.
- Dry-country first-timers. Do not plan on finding water. Carry your own full supply, and ask the land manager about sources.
- People who want a cheap shower setup. A pressurized tank is a nice-to-have. See our power station guide if you want to run a pump instead.
Our #1 pick: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon
If you only read one line of this guide: this is the one we would buy.
Check price on Amazon →Frequently asked questions
How much water should I bring overlanding per person per day?
The CDC baseline is at least 1 gallon per person per day, which covers drinking, cooking and brushing teeth, and Bryce Canyon National Park recommends at least one gallon for backcountry. Plan 1.5 gallons in heat or if you will wash dishes and hands.
What is the best container for overland water storage?
For most weekend overlanders, a Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon is the best value. If you want a tougher can for rough roads, the Scepter 5-gallon is about three times the price.
How much does a 5-gallon jug of water weigh?
Water weighs about 8.34 lbs per gallon, so 5 gallons is about 42 lbs before the container. A Scepter adds about 4.33 lbs, putting a full can near 46 lbs.
Can I put water on my roof rack?
Only if the total stays under your vehicle's dynamic roof load limit in the owner's manual. A Yakima RoadShower 4G is 53 lbs filled, and a 10G is 120 lbs. Inside the vehicle is safer for most rigs.
How long can I store water in a jug?
The CDC says to refresh water you fill yourself every six months and store it at 50 F to 70 F out of the sun. For trip water, fill within a day or two of leaving.
Price classes are a rough guide; check the current price on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.